BECKENHAM BEER FESTIVAL
The Beckenham Beer Festival, organised by CAMRA’s Bromley branch, returns from 28 to 30 July to the Beckenham Rugby Football Club, Balmoral Avenue BR3 3RD. There will be around 55 real ales and 20 ciders available, mostly from local breweries. There will be a special beer tasting event on the Thursday with renowned beer writer and accredited beer sommelier, Des de Moor. The festival is family friendly with lots of seating, a large outdoor area and London’s first Scandinavian food truck, bringing a unique Nordic food experience to the south east! The entry fee is £3 online or £4 on the door (CAMRA members and under 26 free). There is also a special six beer tasting event which is £6 online or £7.50 on the door.
Buy your tickets and beer vouchers at https:// tckty.camra.org.uk/e/44/bromley-camras-beer-and-cider- festival. Opening times: Thursday 12 noon to 10.30, Friday 12 noon to 11pm and Saturday 12 noon to 10.30 (or earlier if beer runs out). The nearest rail/tram station is Elmers End (10 minute walk). Buses: 54, 194, 358 or 367 to Eden Park Avenue (two minute walk). Website https://bromley.camra.org.uk/beer_festival/ or, for volunteers, https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DQZHNBF.
PIG’S EAR FESTIVAL CHARITY
Those attending the 2021 Pig’s Ear Beer Festival, organised by CAMRA’s East London & City branch, raised £803.47 for the Speaker of Hackney’s charities, which were the Hackney Empire and St Joseph’s Hospice.
The cheque was presented to the Speaker, Councillor Michael Desmond (4th left), by members of the organising committee, from left to right, Colette Goulding, Dave Gilchrist, Steve Hall, James Skinner and Mick Lewis. We hope that the Pig’s Ear Beer Festival will return to Hackney later this year from 30 November to 3 December. With thanks to Dave Gilchrist for the photograph.
Steve Hall
EAST LONDON & CITY BRANCH CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR
CAMRA ELAC branch’s Cider Pub of the Year is the Cock Tavern in Mare Street, Hackney (E8 1EJ). This recognises its range of eight ever changing excellent ciders. Pictured is the manager, Joel Wood, right, receiving the certificate from
Dave Gilchrist, the vice chair of ELAC. Also pictured is Colette Goulding, ELAC branch’s cider representative. With thanks to James Watson for the photograph.
Steve Hall
NORTH LONDON BRANCH PUB OF THE YEAR
CAMRA North London branch’s Pub of the Year for 2022 is the Queen’s Head in Acton Street (WC1X 9NB). The award was decided in a vote open to all of the branch’s 1,400 members. Branch chairman Colin Coyne commented, “This pub has previously won our branch’s Cider Pub of the Year twice (2013 and 2016) but never before managed to win the branch Pub of the Year, despite being shortlisted a number of times . . . that is, until now! It’s a lovely late Georgian building, Grade II-listed, with a number of original Victorian features and is well worth coming to look at, and, of course, to try its excellent range of real ales. It’s well known for serving one of the best pints of Trinity, brewed by Tottenham’s Redemption Brewery, and, at only 3% ABV, it’s remarkably tasty and worth a visit to the Queen’s Head for that alone.”
The pub is independently run and has a sister pub in Bermondsey, the Simon the Tanner. Pete Czubala from the pub said, “We’re thrilled to be awarded Pub of the Year. We take huge pride in creating a welcoming space at our inner city pub with delicious drinks to be enjoyed. We work hard to make it the much loved haunt for locals, commuters and beer lovers it has become. It feels great to come out of the pandemic with an award that relects our efforts.” The presentation took place on Tuesday 12 April.
Christine Cryne
NORTH LONDON BRANCH CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR
This year’s award has gone to the Southampton Arms in Highgate Road (NW5 1LE) for the fourth time, with the Tapping the Admiral, just down the road (NW1 8SU), receiving the runner up award. Branch chairman Colin Coyne said, “The Award is determined by CAMRA members voting for a shortlist of pubs selling real cider in North London. The Southampton has appeared on the shortlist on numerous occasions and has now won it for a fourth time, reflecting its commitment to good traditional cider. It’s very unusual to have two pubs near each other selling real cider so we were delighted when another Kentish Town pub, Tapping the Admiral, came a close second in the voting. There is no doubt that Kentish Town really is the place to come for people with discerning palates looking for excellent cider from independent producers.”
The Southampton Arms is a traditional ale house with an old wooden bar and walls adorned with memorabilia. The main thrust of this pub is conversation and good cider (and beer) and the arrangement of the tables makes it almost impossible not to make new acquaintances. It attracts people from all walks of life, from students to grandparents; all are welcome. Peter Holt, the driving force behind the Southampton, wanted a different pub, downplaying spirits, lager and wine to concentrate on real ales and ciders from small independent producers. He also wanted the food to complement the pub and came up with the memorable description, ‘Ale, Cider, Meat’. No gastro dishes, just good bar snacks: pork pies, sausage rolls, scotch eggs, roast pork baps plus veggie options. The Tapping the Admiral is another traditional pub with a similar ethos of welcoming all. Resuscitated after being closed for a number of years, it reopened in 2011 and has won CAMRA North London’s Pub of the Year award three times but this is its first award for cider.
Christine Cryne
WEST LONDON BRANCH PUB OF THE YEAR
CAMRA West London branch’s Pub of the Year for 2022 is the Carlton Tavern in Carlton Vale (NW6 5EU). Open for almost exactly one year, the Carlton Tavern literally rose from the rubble after it was illegally demolished by a property developer on the day before it was to be listed by Historic England. Westminster Council ordered it to be rebuilt brick by brick to match the original and, miraculously, this happened. Despite the effects of Covid, the Carlton Tavern is now a thriving business. Tenant Ben Martin, who runs the pub with his partner Tom Rees, said, “We’re very proud to have won this award in our first year of operation.” The certificate was presented by the chairman of CAMRA’s West London branch, Alex Langford. Such is the significance of the pub’s rebirth, the presentation was attended by members of many CAMRA branches across London and as far away as Shrewsbury & West Shropshire. Also on hand were representatives of the London Brewing Company and Anspach & Hobday, who brew the house beer, appropriately called Build Back Bitter. The presentation took place on Saturday 17 April.
with Tim second from right and Alex to Ben’s right
The pub was rebuilt from original plans and, fortunately, much was salvaged from the wreckage of the old pub, including tiles, bricks and the original bar and fireplaces. Some of the decorative ceilings were also rescued. The opportunity was taken to redesign the internal layout by moving the kitchen to the basement, which had previously been used as changing rooms for a local hockey team. The inside is quite roomy, stretching around the bar to a dining room at the back. Outside is a garden/patio area which can be used for dining in summer. The pub is halfway between Kilburn Park and Maida Vale tube stations.
Ian Collinson
LOCKDOWN HERO IN RICHMOND
Readers will recall that many CAMRA branches made lockdown awards to pubs that supported their local community during the lockdown. The Angel & Crown in Richmond (TW9 1JL) was runner up in the London area and was in the top ten for the whole country, which shows a great deal of dedication! On 19 April, Bob Gordon, chairman of CAMRA’s Richmond & Hounslow branch, supported by a number of branch members, presented Hannah Lawson from the pub with a special award.
During the lockdowns, the pub provided around 70 meals a day for homeless and vulnerable people, seven days a week, and also passed on food, clothing and sleeping bags donated by local businesses and residents. The team at the Angel & Crown have created a pub that serves the whole community and intends to continue doing so. The pub’s own catchphrase is ‘a pub with community’.
George Gimber
GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL – WINTER
Next year’s Burton on Trent Beer Festival will double as the GBBF-Winter for 2023. It will be held in the week commencing 13 February at Burton Town Hall and will include CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition. Bids are being sought for holding the event for the three years 2024 to 2026. Commiserations to CAMRA’s Birmingham branch whose tenure was somewhatspoiled by the pandemic.
CAMRA NATIONAL CAMPAIGNER OF THE YEAR
This year’s award, announced at the recent Members’ Weekend, has been presented to the prominent cider campaigner, Gabe Cook. As well as being a CAMRA author, podcaster, and a regular on national television, Gabe has worked closely with cider specialists and CAMRA’s Campaigns Team and volunteers to lobby government for a progressive system of taxation for small cider makers and for an increase in the legally required minimum juice content for cider. CAMRA’s Awards Director, Gary Timmins said, “It’s a pleasure to formally recognise Gabe’s hard work and dedication to the cider cause. He is a tireless campaigner and his endless enthusiasm for cider and perry, and work throughout the last year, has been exceptional.”
FINAL CALL FOR SOUTH WEST LONDON CRICKET LOVERS!
We are still recruiting for CAMRA South West London branch’s cricket team. Nets are now being held in Battersea Park on Sunday mornings and some fixtures have already been arranged. We just need a few more people to get involved, whether as players, umpires, helping with the organisation or simply supporting (drinking may also be involved). This invitation is open to any CAMRA members in London and you will be welcome irrespective of gender or skill level. If you are interested, please get in touch with Navindh at Navindhb@gmail.com.